Waikato Archives - McCaw Lewis

Renika Siciliano

Renika provides legal and strategic advice to clients right across Aotearoa and leads the firm’s lawyers in te Tiriti o Waitangi and workplace law areas.

Renika’s approach is to understand both the client and the problem, and to provide clear, direct advice without overcomplicating things. She believes in providing realistic solutions to clients by working within individual clients’ tikanga and principles, developing strong working relationships in doing so. Renika enjoys the opportunity to build long-lasting relationships with those she works with, and shares their successes.

In the words of Te Puea Herangi, “Mahia te mahi hei painga mō te iwi”.

She has extensive experience in matters relating to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, including Treaty settlement negotiations, Māori governance and disputes relating to kaupapa Māori. Renika has appeared in most Courts and forums in Aotearoa, including representing Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki in relation to the Supreme Court’s landmark decision Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki Tribal Trust v Minister of Conservation. She has also worked with clients in some of the first substantive matters to be heard under the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act.

Renika also has a wealth of knowledge in workplace law, advising on various employment matters for both employers and employees. She represents and advises clients on the incorporation of tikanga Māori in employment spaces and is called on as an investigator in these spaces and beyond.

As an Associate of AMINZ (Association of Arbitrators and Mediators), she accepts appointments as mediator or facilitator for various kaupapa, including urgent or complex employment matters. She is a current member of the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal. Renika is also available to assist on arbitral panels where particular knowledge of kaupapa Māori is required.

Renika regularly presents at national conferences on Treaty-related and employment matters, having presented for Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa, AMINZ and the New Zealand Law Society. She is also called on often to provide thought leadership around the practice of law generally, presenting at the Future Firm Forum and LawFest. She has held various governance positions including former Tumuaki Wāhine (Co-President) of Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa, Director of Northern Districts Cricket and is currently a Director of Waikato Rugby.

Outside the office, Renika focuses on spending time with her family and keeping active through netball and the gym. She is actively involved in the community, including through her roles on school boards, supporting her son’s basketball, and with Fraser Tech Netball Club in Hamilton.

You will also find Renika working remotely in Taranaki from time to time to be close to her whānau there and to assist clients in that rohe.

Joining the firm in 2008, Renika was appointed a Director of the firm in 2018 and appointed Executive Director in October 2020.

Kylee Katipo

Kylee has extensive expertise in Te Ture Whenua Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi matters, providing legal and strategic advice to Ahu Trusts, Māori Incorporations, Whānau Trusts, and Beneficial Owners of Māori Land across Aotearoa. Driven by a desire to help her people navigate the legal system—a value learned from being raised in a whānau that puts service first—she brings significant experience to her role as Director.

Kylee’s approach is highly collaborative, working with clients to understand their immediate and long-term goals. She is compassionate and approaches matters in a calm and considered manner, with specialist expertise in weaving the law and tikanga to whenua Māori and resource management matters. She particularly enjoys working with Māori land trusts and governance entities to provide long-term, durable solutions for Māori land and resource management.

She has significant court experience, having represented clients in the Māori Appellate Court, Māori Land Court, and Waitangi Tribunal. She has worked closely with Iwi groups, Māori Incorporations, and Māori Trusts on significant projects and developments, including commercial and property-related areas involving Māori land and Marae Governance.

Kylee has a strong commitment to the legal community and thought leadership. She served as Secretary for Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa and is currently the Waikato co-representative. She is a proud contributing author of Multicultural Lawyering, Navigating the Culture of the Law, the Lawyer and the Client (2021) and has served as a guest lecturer at the University of Waikato on Māori land law.

Outside of the office, Kylee gives back to her community as a Trustee for the McCaw Lewis Foundation. She finds balance in her life by being at home with her whānau and by the ocean.

Kylee joined McCaw Lewis in 2018 and was appointed to the role of Director in October 2023.

Katia Holland

Katia is an Associate in our Commercial Team.

Her working relationship with clients is founded in adopting a collaborative approach, working closely with them to understand their values and aspirations to best achieve their business goals. She thoroughly enjoys the opportunity to think strategically and solve complex issues to help businesses succeed.

Katia’s career is deeply motivated by the opportunity to serve and improve the lives of te iwi Māori and the wider community. Katia is proud to work for an organisation whose values align with her own and are founded in te ao Māori. Her key strength is developing genuine relationships, which enables her to provide tailored legal advice that aligns with her clients’ values and way of doing business. She has a particular passion for working with clients who own or operate pakihi Māori with values grounded in te ao Māori.

She specialises in a variety of corporate and commercial matters including governance, corporate structuring, strategic and commercial advice for iwi and hapū, pakihi Māori and Māori owning entities.

Katia serves her community through her governance roles: she is a Trustee for the Ōpārau No.1 Block Trust and the Angel Casts Charitable Trust and sits on the Executive of Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa (Māori Law Society).

Katia is born and bred in the Waikato and completed her studies at Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato – The University of Waikato. It was an easy decision to start a family in Hamilton to be close to whānau.

She is inspired by the whakataukī, “Whāia te iti kahurangi, ki te tuohu koe, me he maunga teitei” – seek the treasure you value most dearly; if you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain. Interpreting it as giving her very best in the pursuit of excellence.

Her greatest achievement is her beautiful tamariki. She maintains balance by living a healthy lifestyle, and outside of work, she enjoys staying active, being outdoors, and indulging her passion for arts and all things fashion.

Katia joined the McCaw Lewis whānau in 2020.

Carmen Mataira

Carmen is an Associate in our Kahurangi Team, working with clients in Treaty settlement negotiations, takutai moana disputes and environmental matters.

Carmen’s approach to working with clients is kind, empathetic, and proactive, guided by her commitment to being consistent and reliable. She has assisted clients in the High Court, Māori Land Court, and Waitangi Tribunal, including briefing evidence and preparing cases and is a strong Court advocate.

Carmen particularly enjoys litigation, thriving in the fast-paced, high-pressure environment of Court Hearings. A core passion is the ability to advocate for justice and Māori rights, especially in hearings fighting against the Crown regarding Te Tiriti breaches. She enjoys helping whānau, hapū, and Iwi Māori, often learning about the whakapapa and history of communities other than her own. Her strengths include strong oral and written abilities, confidence, resilience, and adaptability, always being up for a challenge. She prefers in-person mahi and appreciates clients who trust her advice and value the work.

Carmen completed her law degree at the University of Waikato’s Te Piringa Faculty of Law in 2019, with a major in Te Reo Māori, of which she is a fluent and passionate speaker.

Carmen was born and raised in Gisborne and is very proud to be Māori. She is a dedicated māmā, whose purpose is to set the best example for her tamariki and show them that nothing is impossible. Her motivation is her three daughters, who she welcomed within 15 months of each other. She is immensely proud of raising her daughters while studying law, graduating, being admitted to the bar, and now balancing a full-time career.

Carmen loves to keep physically active, training daily at her gym for her mental health. She also plays touch for Waikato, which has been a big part of her life since she was young. Carmen loves the outdoors, especially the beach, and enjoys unwinding with whānau and friends.

Carmen joined the McCaw Lewis whānau in 2021 and was promoted to Associate in 2025.

Kodi Minnell

Kodi is a Senior Solicitor in the Kahurangi Whenua team and joined the McCaw Lewis whānau in 2025.

Whatungarongaro te tangata, toituu te whenua

As man disappears, the land remains

Kodi is privileged to work in the whenua Maaori space, supporting whaanau, hapuu, and iwi to safeguard and utilise their ancestral lands. She blends legal expertise with cultural understanding to help whaanau achieve solutions grounded in their values and tikanga. Kodi values building strong relationships, knowing that collaboration is essential for creating meaningful outcomes.

Outside of the office Kodi enjoys giving back to her community. This year, she has co-presented a guest lecture for the Māori Dispute Resolution paper at the University of Waikato, delivered webinars on succession to Māori land and Occupation Orders for Community Law Waikato, and contributed as a judge for competitions hosted by the Waikato University Law Students’ Association and the Waikato University Debate Society.

Kodi recharges by spending time with her whaanau, going back home to Tauranga and trying out new recipes.

Hakaraia Richards-Coxhead

Hakaraia is a Solicitor in our Kahurangi Team.

Hakaraia assists on a range of different matters with a particular focus on those matters which touch on te Tiriti o Waitangi and kaupapa Māori. Having appeared in the Environment Court and Māori Land Court to date, Hakaraia is an eager learner and strives for excellence in all areas of his mahi.

Hakaraia has completed his studies of a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Waikato and graduated in 2024.

Outside of work, you’ll often find him training and playing rugby, which has given him the opportunity to be a part of the Chiefs U20 team and the Waikato wider training squad, as well as spending time playing in Hong Kong.

Hakaraia joined the McCaw Lewis whānau as a law clerk in 2022 and was admitted to the bar in 2024.

Tawera Marsh

Tawera works in our Kahurangi and Workplace Law Teams supporting clients across those kaupapa that are of most significance to them.

Tawera is currently completing his legal studies at the University of Waikato, Te Piringa Faculty of Law and will graduate in late 2026.

Throughout his studies, Tawera has held significant leadership roles, serving as Co-Tumuaki of Te Whakahiapo (Waikato Māori Law Students’ Association) and Co-Tumuaki of Tūmatakahuki (National Māori Law Students’ Association). These roles have provided a platform for him to advocate for tauira Māori, uplift Māori presence within te ao ture, and support the development of Māori leadership across Aotearoa.

A highlight of Tawera’s journey includes being selected by Māori ki Waikato to participate in an Indigenous exchange to Canada – an experience that strengthened international Indigenous connections and deepened his dedication to advocacy for future generations.

Outside of study and mahi, Tawera enjoys spending time with his best friends and whānau, travelling, beach trips, shopping, and creating memories with the people he loves. He maintains his wellbeing through Te Whare Tapa Whā, regularly checking in with his hinengaro, tinana, wairua, and whānau to support balance in both his personal and professional life.

Tawera began working with McCaw Lewis in November 2025.

Cheyenne Ngahere

Cheyenne is the Executive Assistant to Directors, Amanda Bedford and Phil Harris, and provides support to the wider Asset Planning Team.

She joined the McCaw Lewis whānau in 2021.

Cheyenne’s approach to work is focused on being highly organised. Her key strengths include prioritising work efficiently and being adaptable to change. She manages her time effectively to provide consistent and strong support to her team, which is what she enjoys most about her role.

Iwi: Waikato